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Online Extra: Mahan pitches Stars to first victory

Tribune-Herald

Dallas Mahan’s luck may be about to change. It sure looked that way Thursday night.

Mahan struck out 10 in 8 1/3 solid innings and the veteran left-hander was boosted by a three-run eighth as the Hawaii Stars avoided a season-opening sweep with a 5-2 victory against the Shinano Grandserows at Wong Stadium.

Designated hitter Marshall MacDonald hit a go-ahead double in the eighth inning for the Stars (1-2) and right fielder Darling Read, who had tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, tacked on run-scoring single. Each finished 2 for 4 as Hawaii belted 10 hits.

In his second season with the Stars, Mahan finally earned his long-awaited first victory — and his 50th professionally. In 2012, he went 0-7 despite a 3.53 ERA and six quality starts in 10 games.

Mahan gave up a two-run single to Takuri Miyazaki in the second inning before settling down. The 35-year-old player/coach retired 14 straight before Tony York came on in relief to get the final two outs. Mahan struck out eight of the last 12 batters he faced, firing 81 of his 114 pitches for strikes. He allowed only four hits and a walk.

Taylor Oldham opened the eighth with a walk and scored a double to center by McDonald that chased Shinano starter Aruto Wada. Read singled to right off Kento Shibata to give Hawaii a 4-2 lead, and Anthony Williams’ infield single brought in another run.

Williams, a shortstop and the No. 9 batter, and Glenn Walker each were 2 for 4 for the Stars of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. Brendan Davis hit an RBI single in the first inning that gave Hawaii a 1-0 lead.

Wada worked seven innings for the Grandserows, a semi-pro Japanese team in the Baseball Challenge League, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

The Ishikawa Million Stars, also of the Baseball Challenge League, visit Wong Stadium at 5:35 p.m. today to open a three-game series.

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